I.

Introduction:
1. General information
Hardness is an important parameter for mechanical performances of metallic and
alloy materials. Generally, it refers to the capacity of a kind of material whose surface is
penetrated by the other kind of harder material which has certain form and dimensions,
and doesnt produce residual deformation by itself.
Rockwell hardness test is the rapidest, easiest and most economic testing method in
mechanical performance tests. Featuring high efficiency and easy-to-operate, the
hardness values can be obtained directly. In most cases, it can fulfill the work that other
mechanical performance test fails.
Rockwell hardness tester Model HR-150A won the silver medal of the State
Superior Product for three consecutive sessions. It is widely used to measure the
Rockwell hardness of hard alloy, quenched and unquenched steels in the labs of research
institutions, colleges, factories and mines.
2. Principle of Test
Rockwell hardness test is to apply diamond cone indenter (see Fig-2) or steel ball
indenter (see Fig-3) to the specimen surface in two steps as shown in Fig-1, which shall
be retained for a certain period of time, and measure the residual indentation depth under
preliminary test force after the main test force is removed. The Rockwell hardness is
calculated by formula (1) as per the h value, the constant N and S (see Table 1).
Rockwell hardness value = N
h/S (1)
Table 1 Symbols and Descriptions
Symbols

Descriptions

Units

F0

Preliminary test force

F1

Main test force

Total test force

Unit of given scale

mm

Hardness value of given scale

Residual indentation depth under preliminary
test force after main test force is removed

mm

h
HRA
HRC
HRB

Rockwell hardness = 100h/0.002

Rockwell hardness = 130h/0.002
1

Fig-1 Principle of Rockwell Hardness Test

In Fig-1:
1-----Indention depth under preliminary test force F0;
2-----Indention depth under main test force F1;
3-----Depth of elastic come-back after main test force F1 is removed;
4-----Residual indention depth h;
5-----Specimen surface
6-----measurement datum plane;
7-----position of indenter.
Example: 59 HRC indicates that Rockwell hardness is 59 measured by C scale.
3. Range of Application
As per hardness range and size of the specimen, different indenters and loads can be
selected and the hardness values can be indicated by different scales such as A, B and C
scales for Rockwell hardness. The loads, indenters, values of the constant K and ranges
of application are shown in Table 2.
l Scale A is used to measure the metallic materials whose hardness exceeds 67HRC,
such as tungsten carbide, hard alloy, hard thin slabs and surface hardened parts. The
range of measurement is 20
85HRA.
l Scale B is used to measure the lower-hardness parts whose range of hardness shall be
25100 HRB, such as non-ferrous metal and its alloy, annealed steel, etc. If the
hardness of specimen is smaller than 25HRB, the metal will begin to creep, the creep
2

deformation will last a long time and the result will be inaccurate. If the hardness of
specimen is larger than 100HRB, error will happen since the steel ball indenter is
prone to deform and the depth of indention is too small.
l Scale C is used for hardness test of specimens which are quenched or tempered, such
as carbide steel, tool steel and alloyed steel. The range of measurement shall be
2067 HRC. If the hardness of specimen is lower than 20HRC, the measurement is
incorrect since it is too deep for the diamond indenter to penetrate into the specimen
and the error will increase caused by the geometric shape of the indenter. If the
hardness of specimen is larger than 67HRC, the diamond is easy to damage due to
the large pressure produced by the sharp tip of the indenter.

Fig-2 Diamond cone indenter

Fig-3 Steel ball indenter

Table 2 Usual scale for Rockwell Hardness

Test force (kg) Constant
Scale

Indenter (mm)

Application examples
F0

F1

10

50 60

100

Hard metal and alloy

Diamond cone indenter

Steel ball
( 1.588) indenter 10

90 100

130

Non-ferrous and soft metal

Diamond cone indenter

140 150

100

Structural and tool steel

10

4. Technical Parameters
Main technical parameters are listed in Table 3 and Fig-4.

Table 3 Main Technical Parameters

Items (Code)

Contents

Height (H)

630mm

Width (W)

238mm

Length (L)

466mm

Max. height of specimen with protection sleeve (B)

100mm

Max. height of specimen without protection sleeve (B)

170mm

Distance between the center of indenter and wall of machine (A)

135mm

Net weight of hardness tester

65kg

Fig-4 Schematic Diagram of Overall Dimensions

Scale
A

B
C

Range of hardness

Readings allowance

20HRA~75HRA

2 HRA

75HRA~88HRA

1.5 HRA

20HRB~45HRB

4 HRB

45HRB~80HRB

3 HRB

80HRB~100HRB

2 HRB

20HRC~70HRC

1.5 HRC
4

5. Descriptions of Mechanism Parts

The tester is composed of machine body (1), indenter (21), loading and unloading
mechanism (2, 20), measurement mechanism (23), load changeover mechanism (24),
specimen support mechanism (5), buffer mechanism (19) and so on (see Fig-5).

Fig-5 Schematic diagram of parts

1. machine body 2. loading handle 3. elevation handle 4. hand wheel
5. elevating screw rod sleeve (elevating screw rod inside) 6. specimen to be tested
7. main shaft 8. smaller lever 9. larger lever 10. adjustment block
11. position mark 12. hoist ring 13. screw 14. weight changeover support bracket
15. weight 16. oil needle 17. oil carpet 18. rear cover 19. buffer
20. unloading handle 21. indenter 22. top cover 23. indication dial gauge
24. load changeover handle 25. worktable
The test force applied onto the main shaft is amplified by the composition of weights
and lever, i.e., indenter penetrates into the specimen surface under the guidance of buffer
with the load amplified by the larger lever. At the same time when the indenter presses
into the specimen, the vertical displacement produced by the main shaft is transmitted to
5

the reading device through the measurement lever and hardness value is indicated
therein.
l The machine body is the shell of the tester, where other parts are fitted directly or
indirectly onto the machine body. Except the worktable (25), elevating screw rod (5)
and operation handle, all the other mechanisms are fitted inside the shell, convenient
for cleaning.
l The total test force is composed of main test force plus preliminary test force. The
preliminary test force is produced by the weight of parts including larger lever (9),
and main shaft (7). The weights (15) are hanged on the larger lever through hoist ring
(12), producing main test force by the lever principle.
l The top end-face of indenter (21) bears the total test force and the sharp tip penetrates
into the surface of the object to be tested.
l The load changeover handle (24) can be turned to different positions, which
simultaneously regulates the positions of weight changeover support bracket (14),
resulting in different composition of weights which makes up three different total test
forces such as 588N/60kg, 980N/100kg and 1470N/150kg.
l The loading handle (2) is to apply main test force.
l The unloading handle (20) can be pushed back as per the direction shown on the
label, removing the main test force. The application of main test force can be kept at
certain speed by regulating the oil needle (16) of buffer (19), avoiding any impact.
l Test value can be read directly from the indication dial gauge (23) of measurement
mechanism.
l The specimen support mechanism including worktable (25), elevating screw rod (5)
and hand wheel (4) is used for bearing hardness blocks and the parts to be tested.

II. Package Opening, Transportation, Installation and Commissioning:

1. Preparation
l The working surroundings of the tester should be clean and dry, free of corrosive
gases.
l The working surroundings of the tester should be free of foreign mechanical
vibration.
l The temperature of the working surroundings should be between
10to 30.
6

l The test table (made by the buyer) should be built up with cements or metal,
having certain stiffness and strength as well as being capable to bear hardness
tester and its auxiliary parts. Its surface should be fitted with a hole 70mm
of
for the elevating screw rod to pass through, as illustrated in Fig-6 (the sizes on
the diagram are only for reference). The levelness of the surface should be within
0.2/1000.
l Enough space should be left around the tester for necessary installation,
commissioning and maintenance.

Fig-6 Schematic Diagram of Test Table

2. Package Opening
1) Remove the packing belt B around the package box (see Fig-7).
2) Pull out the wood screws which fasten the box shell with the bottom seat by the pliers
and withdraw the box shell upwards.
3) Take out the bag of documents and sort out the operation manual (also packing list,
certificate of quality).
4) Loosen the nut on the package hook fastening the box of accessory by the spanner,
take down the package hook and box of accessory. Sort out the objects inside the box
and verify whether all the parts in the packing list are available.
5) Remove the dust-proof cover.
6) Remove the four foundation bolts fastening the tester onto the bottom seat of package
box by the spanners.
7

Fig-7 Schematic diagram of package opening

3. Cautions for transportation

l Dont try to move the tester by oneself to prevent any damage to the tester or
personnel injury since the equipment is too heavy. Therefore the machine should
be moved by at least two experienced technicians.
l During transportation, the slant of the axial line between the indenter and
elevating screw rod against the vertical line should not be over.
15
l During transportation, the contacts between the porter and the tester should be
limited to Face C, D, E and F only. Don
t touch other faces and other parts of the
tester so as not to influence the accuracy of the tester (see Fig-4).
l During transportation, the tester should be handled gently to avoid any collision
and impact.
4. Installation and Commissioning
Before installation and commissioning, the spanner, level and worktable should be
standby.
1) Place the tester onto the prefabricated test table and the elevating screw rod of the
tester should be fall into the hole of the test table.
2) Remove the packing belt A on the tester (see Fig-7).
3) Take down the top cover (22), remove the screws (13) on the rear cover and then
remove the rear cover (18).

Fig-8 Removing the fastening block of larger lever

9

4) Remove the fastening bolt by the spanner, take down the fastening block and
supporting block (see Fig-8).
5) Loosen the nut on the hook screw by a spanner, remove the hook screw and then
pressure plate fastening the weights (see Fig-8).
6) Hold the hoist ring with hands, lift up the group of weights slowly and at the same
time remove the supporting block. Place them lightly so that the cylindrical pin on the
weights group just falls onto the groove on the bracket plate which brackets the
weights group (see Fig-9).

Fig-9 Removing the supporting block

7) Take off the retaining rope binding the smaller lever (8), see Fig-10.
8) Turn the hand wheel (4) anticlockwise to let the elevating screw rod (5) down and
then remove the cushion block of the indenter (see Fig-11). In case that the elevating
screw rod does not descend by turning the hand wheel, but to the opposite, the hand
wheel rises with the elevating screw rod and the cushion block not removable, maybe
the elevating screw rod and its seat (under the hand wheel) are adhered together by
anti-rust oil. This can be solved by rotating the hand wheel anticlockwise to rise up to
10

20mm or so, pressing down the hand wheel by hand with force so that the elevating
screw rod and its seat are disengaged.

Fig-10 Taking off the retaining rope

Fig-11 Removing the cushion block of the indenter

9) Remove the protective sleeve around the elevating screw rod, clean the elevating
screw rod and hand wheel off anti-rust oil with kerosene, fill adequate amount of
lubricants into the contact positions between the elevating screw rod and hand wheel,
and then reassemble the protective sleeve.
11

10) Make sure that the adjustment block on larger lever (9) is located between the two
red marks (see Fig-12). Otherwise place it to the correct position.

Fig-12 Checking adjustment block

Fig-13 Regulation plate and pin screw

12

11) Place the larger anvil into the hole over the elevating screw rod and the level meter
onto the anvil. If necessary, insert metallic cushion into the bottom seat of machine
body so that the levelness in two directions are within 0.2/1000.
12) It may happen that the indication dial gauge (23) is loose during transportation. In
this case, first loosen the retaining screw A on machine body, remove the indication
dial gauge, tighten the three screws B at the back of the dial gauge and put the dial
gauge on again (see Fig-13).
13) Turn the knurled chrome-plated shell of indication dial gauge (23) to make C
the
point right on the top. Should the larger pointer not pointC
to as shown in Fig-14, it
shall be adjusted as follows: loosen the screw cap, adjust the pin screw (see Fig-13)
until the larger pointer points to theC (see Fig-19), and then retighten the screw
cap.
14) If the reading error exceeds the allowance due to transportation, regulate as follows
(see Fig-13):
l Make test with the higher hardness block and lower hardness block of HRC
separately. If the reading is on the high side, loosen the two screws C on the
regulation plate and move the regulation plate lightly rightwards (pay attention
not to move the pin screw in the middle of regulation plate), then retighten
screws C. If the reading is still on the high side, repeat the above steps once again
until the reading is within the range of allowance. If the reading is on the low
side, move the regulation plate leftwards as per above-mentioned method.
l After calibrated with both higher hardness block and lower hardness block of
HRC, in general, HRA and HRB scale will also be precise.
l While carrying out the above adjustment, the following test should not be done
until the two screws C are retightened every time when the regulation plate is
moved.
l The above method is only suitable for minor regulation when the reading error is
within 5 HRC or 5 HRA.
l If slight error is found for scale B, it may be due to the steel ball. Replace the
steel ball inside the steel ball indenter (see Fig-2) and try again.
15) Put on top cover (22) and rear cover (18).

13

III. Normal Operation:

l Before test, the kind of scale has to be determined upon the specimen. The following
operation takes scale C as an example without specific notice, i.e. to test with
diamond cone indenter and total test force up to 150kgf. It can be referred to for
other scales.
1. Preparation prior to normal operation
First of all, spend some time on studying the functions of every parts of the indication
dial gauge, where there are hardness readings, division lines, longer pointer, shorter
pointer, etc. (see Fig-14)
l Black division lines are for hardness indication. The black digits at outer ring are for
hardness indication of scales A and C while red digits at inner ring are for scale B.
Different scales can be composed of by changing the indenter and the weights (for
detail, please refer to Table 2).
l The shorter pointer indicates the load of preliminary test force.
l The longer pointer indicates the hardness value of tested specimen.
The letters B and C are the symbols of scales. The position of Letter C is the zero point
of division value of scale C or A. The position of Letter B is that of division value 30 for
scale B.

Fig-14 Schematic diagram of Indication dial gauge

14

1) Regulate the loading ratio of main test force

a. Make sure that the unloading handle (20) is at the position of unloading. Otherwise,
turn it to unloading position slowly (2 to 3 seconds or so) as per the unloading
direction shown on the unloading label (see Fig-15).

Fig-15 Loading and unloading handles

b. Turn the load changeover handle (24) to the position of 150kgf and make sure that the
Number 150 on the handle aligns with the red mark, as shown in Fig-16.

Fig-16 Test force selection

c. Place the standard hardness block 40~50HRC onto the worktable

d. Turn the hand wheel (4) so that the hardness block raises the indenter until the shorter
15

pointer points to red mark, and then the preliminary test force has been applied.
e. As per the loading direction on loading label, pull the loading handle (2) slowly
towards the front of the machine body (approximately 4 seconds) to the limit position,
and then the main test force has been applied (see Fig-15).
f. Keep eyes on the longer pointer of indication dial gauge and make sure that it takes 4
to 8 seconds for it to start turning till stop. Otherwise, regulate it by turning oil needle
as follows: First, loosen the bolt cap on the buffer (see Fig-17), turn the oil needle
lightly. To turn it anticlockwise, the loading speed will rise, while to turn it clockwise,
the loading will slow down. Repeat the above steps until everything is ok, and then
tighten the bolt cap.

Fig-17 Regulating the oil needle

2) Test force selection
Turn the load changeover handle until the number of selected test force points to the
red mark (see Fig-16).
Note: When changing the test force, the unloading handle must be at the unloading
position (see Fig-15, i.e. at the limit position on the right hand). Otherwise it will cause
damage to the hardness tester.
3) Install indenter (see Fig-18)
The tester is equipped with a steel ball indenter when exiting works. Following steps
should be followed when reinstalling.
16

a. Put on the indenter and tighten it slightly to the extent that it will not fall down.
b. Place the standard block onto the worktable.
c. Turn the hand wheel to apply preliminary test force.
d. Pull the loading handle leftwards to apply main test force on the indenter (see
Fig-15).
e. Tighten the screw. Thats all for the installation.

Fig-18 Install the indenter

4) The specimen should meet the following requirements
a. It should have certain size and thickness. The distance between two centers of
adjacent indentions and that between the center of indention and edge of specimen
should be more than 3mm. The minimum thickness should be no less than 8 times to
the depth of indention. After test, the binding surface of the specimen should be free
of obvious hint of deformation. The minimum thickness is subject to the quality of
material and the load selected. The table 4 is only a reference.
b. The surface to be tested should be flat generally. If it is a curved face and the radius of
curvature is not too big, the test result should be corrected. The correction of cylindrical
specimen is included in Table 5 and Table 6.
c. The surface of specimen should be polished with the finish no less than

. The

polishing should not influence the hardness, i.e., no hardening or tempering

phenomena. The surface finish of binding face should be no less than

. The

surface to be tested, binding surface and worktable surface should be kept clean. The
specimen shall be placed on the worktable reliably and no movement should happen.
17

d. Be sure that the test force applied should be perpendicular to the surface to be tested.
To test the specimens with curved shapes or other abnormal shapes, specialized anvil
should be adopted and proper position should be selected. For example, V-shaped
anvil shall be used for cylindrical specimen. To test the specimens hollow inside,
much attention should be paid not to produce deformation by test force, or the
measured hardness value is incorrect.
Table 4 Minimum Thickness of Specimen

Scale

Hardness

Minimum

value

thickness

(HR)

(mm)

80

1.0

90

0.8

0.4

100

0.7

25

2.0

20

1.5

30

1.9

30

1.3

40

1.7

40

1.2

50

1.5

50

1.0

60

1.3

60

0.8

70

1.2

70

0.7

Hardness value

Minimum thickness

(HR)

(mm)

70

0.7

80

0.5

90

Scale

2. Testing procedures
1) Clean the top end of elevating screw rod and both sides of worktable, place the
worktable into the insertion hole of elevating screw rod. Proper worktable should be
chosen according to the size of the parts to be tested.
2) Clean the binding surface of specimen and place it onto the worktable. Turn the hand
wheel to lift up the worktable slowly to push up the indenter. No stop or reverse action
is allowed from the start until the shorter pointer points to the red mark and the longer
pointer point right upwards after three circles of clockwise turning. The allowance is
5 division lines. If it is more than 5 division lines, the spot should be invalid and
repeat the test by choosing other spot.
18

3) Turn the outer shell of indication dial gauge until the longer pointer aligns with the
long division line between Letter C and Letter B (see Fig-19, either anticlockwise or
clockwise turn is all right).

Fig-19
4) As per the loading direction on the loading label, pull the loading handle (2) towards
the front of machine body slowly (around 4 seconds) up to the left-handed limit
position (see Fig-15), then the main test force has been applied and the longer pointer
will rotate (see Fig-20).

Fig-20
5) After the longer pointer stops rotating obviously, remove the main test force by
pushing slowly (2 to 3 seconds) the unloading handle clockwise to the right-handed
19

limit (see Fig-15). Get the readings from corresponding scales on the indication dial
gauge. For diamond indenter, read from the black digits at the outer ring. As for steel
ball indenter, read from the red digits at the inner ring. The hardness value for this
example shall be 45 HRC (see Fig-21). Turn the hand wheel to let the specimen down
until the surface being tested is separated from the indenter. Move the specimen and
carry on new test by repeating the above steps from 2) to 5). Please be advised that the
binding bottom surface of specimen shall not be away from the worktable.

Fig-21
6) The protective sleeve of elevating screw rod is designed to prevent dust from the
elevating screw rod. It shall be kept outside the elevating screw rod when the tester is
not in use or the height of specimen is smaller than 100mm. When the height is over
100mm, it must be removed; otherwise the worktable will be propped up, resulting in
invalid test.
CAUTIONS:
During the step 4 and step 5, the load changeover handle should not be turned so as
to prevent damaging the tester.
After any item among indenter, specimen and worktable is replaced, the first test
should be regarded invalid.

20

IV. Maintenance
1. Cleaning and Lubrication
l Cover the tester with dust-proof guard when it is not in use for a long time.
l Fill adequate amount of machine oil into the contact face between elevating screw
rod and hand wheel periodically.
2. Oil filling to the buffer
If the pointer of indication dial gauge rotates rapidly at the beginning and then slowly
later on when applying main test force, it means that the buffer is lack of machine oil.
Lift up the oil carpet over the buffer and fill with clean machine oil No. 32. At the same
time, pull and push the loading and unloading handles several times to let the piston
move up and down so that the air inside the buffer is completely get rid of, until there is
oil overflowing from the top when the piston falls down to the bottom (see Fig-22).

Fig-22 Oil filling

3. Calibration
Inspect the accuracy with the standard hardness block supplied with the tester.
l The tester should be calibrated regularly, usually the period can not be more than 12
months.
l Clean the worktable and standard hardness block and carry out the test on the
working face of the block. It is not allowed to make a test on the binding bottom
surface.
l If the reading error is too much, besides the conventional inspection listed in Table 7,
check whether the binding surface of standard hardness block is burry. If yes, please
21

polish it with edge stone.

l When carrying on the test on different spots on standard block, the test block should
be pulled along the worktable rather than removed away from the worktable.

V. Hardness Value Correction

Since the measured value for convex specimen is lowered, the correction should be
added. To the opposite, as for the concave specimen, correction should be deducted.
Table 5 Corrections to scale C and A for cylindrical specimen
Diameter of cylindrical specimen (mm)

Specimen

6.4

10

13

16

Hardness

19

22

25

32

38

correction

20

6.0

4.5

3.5

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.5

1.0

1.0

25

5.5

4.0

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

1.0

1.0

30

5.0

3.5

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.5

1.0

1.0

0.5

35

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.5

1.5

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.5

40

3.5

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.5

45

3.0

2.0

1.5

1.0

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.5

0.5

50

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.5

55

2.0

1.5

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.5

60

1.5

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.5

65

1.5

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.5

70

1.0

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.5

75

1.0

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.5

80

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.5

85

0.5

0.5

0.5

90

0.5

22

Table 6 Corrections to scale B for cylindrical specimen

Diameter of cylindrical specimen (mm)

Specimen

6.4

10

13

16

19

22

25

Hardness

correction
0

12.5

8.5

6.5

5.5

4.5

3.5

3.0

10

12.0

8.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.5

3.0

20

11.0

7.5

5.5

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

30

10.0

6.5

5.0

4.5

3.5

3.0

2.5

40

9.0

6.0

4.5

4.0

3.0

2.5

2.5

50

8.0

5.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

60

7.0

5.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

2.0

70

6.0

4.0

3.0

2.5

2.0

2.0

1.5

80

5.0

3.5

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.5

1.5

90

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.0

100

3.5

2.5

1.5

1.5

1.0

0.5

23

VI. Troubleshooting
When the tester breaks down, the following contents can help you predict the troubles
and recommend the trouble shooting methods. If the problems remain unsolved, please
contact with our after-sale service department rather than dismantle the tester by yourself.

Phenomena
Elevating screw rod is
held back

Main test force

can not be applied

Reasons
Rusted or chips

and hand wheel, fill with lubricants

Adjust oil needle to eliminate locking

buffer locked

(refer to P. 16)

Weights not

Adjust the position of weights as per

hanged properly

operation manual (refer to P. 10)

The levelness of

trembles when

worktable not

applying main load

right

precise

Get rid of the chips on elevating screw rod

Oil needle of

Larger pointer

Hardness value not

Remedies

Test force

Distance of
indention

Adjust the levelness (refer to P. 13)

Check whether selected test force

conforms to the requirements of the scale
Check whether the distance between the
centers of two adjacent indentions is too
near
Check whether the indenter conforms to
the requirements of the scale

Indenter

Check whether the clearance between the

indenter and main shaft is removed
Replace the indenter if damaged

24

Check whether there are impurities

between worktable and elevating screw
rod
Worktable

Check whether selected worktable is

suitable for this specimen
Check whether protective sleeve props up
worktable
Check whether the surface tested is
perpendicular to the direction of test force

Specimen

Check whether the rear surface is burry

Check whether the specimen is too thin
Check whether there is mechanical
vibration resources around

Environment
Check whether the temperature is kept at
10 to 30
Others

Calibrate the hardness tester by standard

block supplied

25